Shoulder braid



Oct. 20, 1964 w, w JR 3,153,244

SHOULDER BRAID Filed June 7, 1962 INVENTOR. WILL/AM .1 LOW/VET, JR.

BY cazuflw ATTORNEY United States Patent D 3,153,244 SHOULDER BRAID William I. Lowney, In, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Grip-Flex Corp, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 200,694 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-244) In general, this invention relates to a new and improved shoulder braid for military uniforms.

In the past, the center cord of a shoulder braid for a uniform was a single loop which had been sewn together at its ends. The shoulder braid was formed by plaiting two cords in a series of interlocking square knots around the center cord. After a given number of square knots, the cords were straight plaited and then the interlocking. square knots were continued. The beginning and end of the plaiting cords were tucked underneath the under side of a loop and securely tacked to the center cord and adjacent loops. The resultant shoulder braid was quite strong. However, it had one weak point. This weak point was the joint between the two ends of the center cord. Since this joint was made by sewing the two ends together, it could never be as strong as the actual center cord. Additionally, the square plaiting would slip around the center cord and had to be tacked thereto.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a new and better shoulder braid for uniforms in which the resultant braid is as strong as the cord it is manufactured of.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumen talities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a showing of a completed shoulder braid made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a showing of the prior art center cord construction.

FIGURE 3 is one showing of the first step in manufacturing the shoulder braid of FIGURE 1 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a second step in the method of manufacture shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the cord shown in FIGURE 3 taken along lines 5-5.

FIGURE 6 is the first step in a second method of manufacturing the shoulder braid of FIGURE 1 in accordance with the present invention.

In FIGURE 1, there is shown a shoulder braid designated by the numeral 10 made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The shoulder braid shown in FIGURE 1 consists of a center cord 12 exposed for about two inches at the top of the shoulder braid 19. In the center of the exposed portion of the center cord 12, there is sewn a buttonhole loop 14. The buttonhole loop is usually inserted underneath the center cord for about an inch and securely tacked in the center. The buttonhole usually measures about 1% inch in size.

Two plaiting cords are used to form a series of interlocking square knots all plaited around the center cord 12 for about 18 plaits or 10 inches. On the left hand side of the cord 12 shown-in FIGURE 1, such a square knot plaiting has been designated in general by the numeral 16. After 18 plaits, the plaiting cord is tacked to 3,153,244. Patented Oct. 20, 1964 'ice the center and the plaiting changes from square to regular plaiting. The regular plaiting forms the bottom portion of the shoulder braid 10. This regular plaiting has been generally designated by the numeral 18.

At the end of 15 regular plaits, the plaiting cords are tacked to the center cord 12 and square plaiting is resumed. This square plaiting continues for an additional 18 plaits and forms the right side of the shoulder braid 1t and is generally designated by the numeral 20. The ends of the plaiting cord are then tucked underneath the I under side of the loop and tacked to the center adjacent the loops.

In FIGURE 2, there is shown the prior art construction of the center cord. The center cord 22 had a buttonhole loop 24 sewn thereto. The ends of the cord 22 abutted to form the loop. They were securely stitched together at point 26 with about six stitches. Each stitch extended inch on each side of the joint, and the joint 26 was covered with whipping for about two inches. The joint 26 in the center cord 22 was the weak point in the cord.

In order to eliminate the problems created by this weak point, the present invention utilizes the method shown with respect to FIGURE 3. In this method, the center cord loop 28 is formed from 30 inches of cord by making a knot 34 from the ends of the cord 30 and 32. The knot shown in FIGURE 3 is a granny knot. A granny knot has the advantage of not slipping around the center cord 28, but it could be a square or other suitable knot. In order to form the side square plaiting 16, the end 30 is pulled so that the knot 34 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4.

At this point, the following series of steps are necessary to manufacture the interlocking square knot side 16. Cord 32 is placed under cord 28 and over cord 30. Cord 30 being the downward facing cord and cord 32 being the upperward facing cord in accordance with the last knot 34, cord 30 is then placed over cord 28 and through the loop formed by cord 32, cord 28 and knot 34. This is pulled tight. At this point, cord3tl is again the downward facing cord and cord 32 the upward facing cord. The operation discussed above is then repeated 18 times to form the square knot plaits 16. When the square knot plait 16 is completed, the straight or regular plaiting 18 is started by first tacking the ends of the square plaiting 16 and interweaving the three cords. At the end of the straight plaiting, the plaited cords 30 and 32 are tacked to the center cord 28 and the second group of square plaits 20 is started. At the end of the square plaits 20, the cords 30 and 32 are tucked underneath the under side loop and securely tacked to the center and adjacent loops. The center cord 12 is then exposed as the two inch portion 12.

The cord used in the manufacture of the shoulder braid is best shown in cross section in FIGURE 5. The cord 28 consists of a core 40 of fine cotton yarn which gives a well-rounded and firm appearance. The core 49 has a braided covering 42 of fine cotton yarn. The outside covering 44is made of first quality continuous filament rayon.

The buttonhole loop 44 is made of a inch rayon tubular braid with a cotton core.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 6. In this embodiment, the cord is made into a loop 36 of the desired size and sewn at a point 33 to fixedly secure the loop. In this manner, there can be no variation in the size of the loop due to a slipping of the knot. Since the sewing leaves two ends 46 and 48 free, interlocking square knots can be immediately started to form the shoulder braid.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claim, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

A shoulder braid comprising a center cord loop formed References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,888,682 Du Bois et a1. June 2, 1959 

